Gate.



(No M odeL) Patented" Mar. I3, |900. A. LINDUUIST.

GATE.

(Application led l'une 2,-1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

\\ n lil l Patented Mar. I3, |900.

.A om 0 5, 5 4 6 0. N

GATE.

(Application led June 2, 1899.)

v(No Model.)

l 2 Sheets--Shee 2.

ma Houma Farias oo. puoouwq. WASHINGTON. n. c;

ALEXIS LINDQUIST, OF DE LAND, FLORIDA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,568, dated March 13, 1900.

Application filed `[fune 2, 1899. Serial. No. 719,120` (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern: f

Beit known that I, ,ALEXIS LINDQUIsr, a citizen of the United States, residing at De Land, in the county of Volusia and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Gate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gates of the class known as automatic gates, in which pro* Vision is made for enabling the weight of a vehicle of any description to berutilized for opening and closing the gate without requiring any attention whatever on the part of the occupants of the vehicle or others.

One object of the invention is to provide simple and reliable mechanism whereby a hinged gate may be tilted upon the approach of a vehicle and by means of the weight of a vehicle in such a manner as to cause it to swing open of its own weight and after the vehicle has passed through the gateway to again swing into its closed position.

The invention also contemplates means for locking the gate in its closed position and releasing the gate simultaneously with the movement by tilting the gate, so as to cause it to swing open.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully pointed out in the vcourse of the ensuing description.

The invention consists in the novel mechanisni and the detailsof construction and relative positions of parts thereof, as hereinafter set forth, illustrated inthe drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurev l is a perspective viewof a gate and the adjacent roadway, showing the gate-operating mechanism as contemplated in this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection through the roadway, showing the operating bars, levers, and tilting fulcrum-step. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing another set of levers for operating the spring-keepers. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the fulcrumstep. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the gate and passing through the posts at each end thereof, illustrating the manner of mounting the gate: Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the fulcrum-step. Fig.

5o 7 is a detail horizontal section through the keeper-post,showing the manner of operating the keepers. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the keepers. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the positions or angles of the gate in its two positions as regulated by the tilting fulcruin-step.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all lthe views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a gate of Yany usual or preferred construction, 2 the post to which the gate is hinged, and 3 the post to which the free end ,of the gate is locked when closed.' The post 2 is provided near its upper end with a horizontally-projecting ear 4, upon which rests a plate 5, at the upper inner cornerof the gate, the plate 5 projecting over the ear 4, and both the plate 5 and ear 4 being provided with openings to receive a hinge pin or rod 6, by means of which the gate is hinged to the post and its weight supported thereon. The gate is also provided at its lower inner corner with a plate 7, similar to plate 5 hereinabove described, which also receives the pin or rod 6. The upper end of the pin or rod 6 receives the downward .pressure of the free end of a leaf-spring 8, secured to the post 2, at or near the upper end of the latter.

Arranged beneath thelower end of the pin or rod 6 is a tilting fulcru m-step 9, which resembles an isosceles triangle, with its two lower and angularly-disposed sides lO equal and forming at their junction a vertex or fulcrumpoint 11, which bears against and rests in rocking Contact with a plate or other suitable support 12. The step 9 is preferably held in place by means of a pivot 13, arranged at or adjacent to the vertex l1, and is provided at its projecting ends with ,ears 14 for the attachment of the operating connections. The step 9 is provided in its upper side with a longitudinal slot 15, in which the lower end of the pin or rod 6 works. Below the slot 15 and within the step is arranged a plate or floor 16, upon which the lower end of the pin or rod 6 rests and against which it slides for shifting the angle of the gate and causing it to swing open or shut. In whichever direction the step 9 is rocked or tilted it is retained not only by the weight of the gate itself, but

by the additional pressure of the spring 8.

The mechanism for tilting or rocking the IOO fulcrum-step consists of two bars or treadpieces 17, extending across the roadway and arranged at points sufficiently remote from the gate to enable the gate to be opened upon the approach or departure of the vehicle without interfering with the operation of the gate. Each of the bars 17 is connected by means of pins or standards 18 and 18' at its opposite ends with two sets of levers 19 and 20, the levers 19 being employed for operating the fulcrum-step and the levers 20 for withdrawing the spring-keepers. Both sets of levers are fulcrumed intermediate their ends, as shown at 2l, and in turn operate upon other levers 22 and 23, arranged adjacent to the posts 2 and 3 and also fulcrumed intermediate their ends, as shown at 24. The inner adjacent ends of the levers 22 are connected to the opposite ends of the fulcrum-step by means of cords, rods, or other connections 25, attached at their upper ends to the ears 14 at the opposite ends of the step 9. As one of the bars 17 is depressed by the wheels of the vehicle passing thereover the fulcrum-step is tilted by the mechanism hereinbefore described, causing the lower end of the hinge pin or rod 6to swing laterally in one direction or the other, and thus change the center of gravity of the gate, which will cause it to swing open or shut, as the case may be.

Connected to the post 3 are two spring-keepers 25, each of which comprises a spring-arm 27, connected at its lower end rigidly to thepost and contained within a vertical groove 28 in the inner face of the post and having its free end bent to form a laterally-project ing catch or nosepiece 29, which works in a recess or opening 30 in the post. The projections or nosepieces 29 are arranged a sufticient distance apart to receive between them a latch 31, pivotally mounted ou the free end of the gate, said latch being preferably pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 32, thus providing a handle portion 33, which enables the latch to be rocked by hand out of engagement with the keepers, so that pedestrians may open and close the gate without disturbing the operating mechanism hereinabove described. Attached to the free ends of the keepers 26 are cords or connections 34, which are attached at their lower ends to the inner adjacent ends of the levers 23.

Having thus described the construction and arrangement of the operating mechanism, the operation of the several parts will now be described. l

Suppose the step 9 to be tilted in a direction causing the hinge-pin 6 of the gate to assume the position or angle diagrammatically` illust-rated in Fig. 9 by the line a b. As the` vehicle approaches and depresses the bar 17' at the right hand of Fig. 9 it will, by means of the operating levers and connections hereinbefore described, rock or tilt the fulcrumstep until the adjacent end thereof is thrown downward, which will cause the lower end of the pin 6 to slide lengthwise of the fulcrumstep until it assumes the position or angle designated by u. c in Fig. 9. As the center of gravity of the gate has been changed, the tendency will be for the gate to swing open and in the'direction of or toward the bar 17 in said figure. At the same time that the fulcrum-step is tilted the operating levers or connections retract or withdraw the keepers, which engage the gate-latch, thereby releasing the free end of the gate and allowing it to swing open. After the vehicle has passed through the gateway it depresses the other bar 17, and the levers .and connections tilt the fulcrum-step to the opposite side. This causes the hinge-pin 6 to swing back from the position a c to the position a Z9 in Fig. 9, whereupon the gate will swing by gravity into a closed position. As the latch 31 strikes against the adjacent keeper the latter springs back and allows the latch to pass until it strikes the other `or farther keeper, and as the gate rebounds the rst -named keeper springs in behind the latch and locks the gate. When the vehicle is travelingin the opposite direction, the operation is just the same as hereinbefore described.

One advantage of the construction hereinbefore described resides in the fact that the gate swings before or away from the approaching vehicle. Also the action of the gate is not sudden or violent, and therefore does not endanger thevehicle or person passing through the gateway. The gate may also be readily opened or closed by persons on foot, and in case of possible derangement of the operating mechanism the gate may be opened and closed the same as any ordinary gate, as the operating mechanism will not in the least interfere therewith.

The principle of the invention above disclosed is not necessarily limited to farm-gates and the like, but may be also used in connection with minor railroad-gates and railway-crossings where the travel is not suiiicient to warrant the employment of a llagman. When constructed for this purpose, the gates could close the street during the passage of a train or at other times could close the passage-way across the track, so as to keep cattle, &c., o the railway.

From the foregoing it lis thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described gate will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of the construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a hinged and tilting gate, of a tilting fulcrum-step on which the gate is slidingly mounted, pressure-bars arranged at a distance from the gate, and the ICO connections between said bars and the oppobar arranged at a distance from the gate and adapted to be depressed when weight is placed thereon, a lever actuated by said bar, and a flexible connection between said bar and step, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a hinged and tilting gate, of a tilting fuIcrum-step therefor, and a hinge pin or rod for the gate having a sliding engagement with said step.

4. The combination with a hinged and tilting gate, of a tilting fulcrum-step therefor, and a hinge pin or rod for the gate, said pin being mounted to bear'upon and slide lengthwise of the step.

5.. The combination with a hinged gate, of a tilting fulcrurn-step therefor having a slot in its upper side, and a hinge pin or rod for the -gate having its lower end arranged to work longitudinally in said slot.l

. 6. The combination with a hinged and tilting gate, of a tilting fulcrum-step therefor, means for tilting said step, and ahinge pin or rod for the, gate, said pin or rod having its upper end held stationary, and its lower end bearing upon the step and arranged to slide thereon.

7. The combination with a hinged and tilting gate, of atilting fulcrum-step therefor, a hinge pin orrod for the gate having a sliding engagement at its lower end with said step,

' an operating-bar arranged at a distance from thel gate, a lever connected at one end to said i bar, and a connection between said lever and one end of the fulcrum-step, substantially as described. Y

8. The combination with a hinged'and tilting gate, of a tilting fulcrum-step therefor, a hinge pin or rod for the gate having a sliding engagement at its lowe'r eiid with said step, operating-bars arranged on each side of the gateway at a distance therefrom, and connections between said bars and step for tilting the latter. v

9. The combination with a hinged gate, of a keeper mounted on one of the gate-posts and` hinge pin or rod for the gate having a sliding v engagement with said step, a keeper mounted on one of the stationary gate-posts'and'adapted to engagethe free end of the gate, an 0perating-bar arranged at a distance'from theA gate, and connections between the operating-v bar and the step and the keeper, whereby both the step and the keeper are simultaneously operated, substantially as described.

l1. The combination with a swinging gate, of a pivoted latch on the free end'of the gate, a pair of spring-keepers on one of the gateposts for engaging said latch and between which the latch is adapted to lie, operatingbars arranged on opposite sides of the gate when closed, and connections between said bars and keepers, whereby the depression of either bar will operate both keepers for releasing the gate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my Vown I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

' PER. M. HoLM,

PAUL J. BRUEN.

, ALEXIS kLINDQUIST. f 

